October 10, 2007
Eagles move up in national rankings
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana men's and women's cross country teams moved up in the latest USTFCCCA Top 25 Poll.
USI's men moved two spots to seventh after their dominating performance at the Millikin Fast Times Challenge last Friday. The seventh-place ranking is the squad's highest position in the national poll since it was ranked fifth during the 1996 season. USI was ranked as high as third at one point during the 1991 season.
Senior Paul Jellema (Dyer, Indiana) and junior Tim Sirbek (Hammond, Indiana) continue to lead a deep Screaming Eagles' squad that also is ranked second in the Great Lakes Region. Jellema was first at the Millikin Fast Times Challenge, while Sirbek finished second.
The women's squad moved up five spots to 19th in this week's poll after its perfect score at the Millikin Fast Times Challenge. The Eagles, who are fourth in the Great Lakes Region, had the top seven finishers, led by sophomore Mary Ballinger (Chesterton, Indiana) and junior Marcia Weflen (Rossville, Indiana).
From the GLVC, the University of Missouri-Rolla and Northern Kentucky University are ranked 20th and 22nd, respectively, in the men's poll. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is eighth in the women's poll.
USI is idle this weekend as it prepares for the GLVC Championships October 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The men's squad is looking to capture its third straight GLVC crown and fourth in the last five years, while the women are looking to up-end Wisconsin-Parkside's bid for a fourth-straight title and break a string of three consecutive second-place finishes.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
